Bulgaria detects first bird flu case in poultry

Bulgarian authorities have confirmed the detection of the country's first
bird flu case in poultry in a barnyard in the village of Slantchogled, south of
the country.

The Sofia laboratory detected the virus on the 20 July. It is not yet known
if the virus is the deadly H5N1 bird
flu strain. Definite results are due within days. Bulgarian officials are to
send a sample to the European Union's laboratory in Weybridge,
Britain.

According to Nihat Kabil, Bulgaria's
agriculture minister, the area has no big poultry producers; however a
destruction order has been placed on all poultry and poultry products in the
region.

It is expected that the European Commission will decide on
Monday whether or not to impose a ban on all live poultry and poultry products
from the region.

Four cases of H5N1 was detected in swans in northern
Bulgaria in February.